The men and women who have the right ideals … are those who have the courage to strive for the happiness which comes only with labor and effort and self-sacrifice, and those whose joy in life springs in part from power of work and sense of duty.
—Theodore Roosevelt (1858–1919) American Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Explorer
Only when we give joyfully, without hesitation or thought of gain, can we truly know what love means.
—Leo Buscaglia (1924–98) American Motivational Speaker
He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
—The Holy Bible Scripture in the Christian Faith
I would say to the House, as I said to those who have joined this Government: I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat. You ask, what is our aim? I can answer in one word: It is victory, victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory, however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
In the sphere of material things, giving means being rich. Not he who has much is rich, but he who gives much.
—Erich Fromm (1900–80) German-American Psychoanalyst, Social Philosopher
The same people who can deny others everything are famous for refusing themselves nothing.
—Leigh Hunt (1784–1859) British Poet, Essayist, Journalist
If you have much, give of your wealth; if you have little, give of your heart.
—Arabic Proverb
Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice, and is never the result of selfishness.
—Napoleon Hill (1883–1970) American Author, Journalist, Attorney, Lecturer
Nothing so much enhances a good as to make sacrifices for it.
—George Santayana (1863–1952) Spanish-American Poet, Philosopher
About sacrifice and the offering of sacrifices, sacrificial animals think quite differently from those who look on: but they have never been allowed to have their say.
—Friedrich Nietzsche (1844–1900) German Philosopher, Scholar, Writer
You must pay the price if you wish to secure the blessing.
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845) American Head of State
Non-cooperation is a measure of discipline and sacrifice, and it demands respect for the opposite views.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
There is a woman who spent her life loving that evil creature: she died. I’m sure she’s a saint in heaven right now. You are going to kill me the way he killed that woman.That is what’s in store for all of us who have unselfish hearts.
—Arthur Rimbaud (1854–91) French Poet, Adventurer
You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give.
—Winston Churchill (1874–1965) British Head of State, Political leader, Historian, Journalist, Author
Humanitarianism consists in never sacrificing a human being to a purpose.
—Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965) French Theologian, Musician, Philosopher, Physician
Behold, I do not give lectures or a little charity, When I give, I give myself.
—Walt Whitman (1819–92) American Poet, Essayist, Journalist, American, Poet, Essayist, Journalist
Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: “What are you doing for others?”
—Martin Luther King, Jr. (1929–68) American Civil Rights Leader, Clergyman
The mice which helplessly find themselves between the cats teeth acquire no merit from their enforced sacrifice.
—Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869–1948) Indian Hindu Political leader
It is a clear gain to sacrifice pleasure in order to avoid pain.
—Arthur Schopenhauer (1788–1860) German Philosopher
In common things the law of sacrifice takes the form of positive duty.
—James Anthony Froude (1818–94) British Historian, Novelist, Biographer, Editor
No fine work can be done without concentration and self-sacrifice and toil and doubt.
—Max Beerbohm (1872–1956) British Essayist, Caricaturist, Novelist
Undoubtedly a man is to labor to better his condition, but first to better himself.
—William Ellery Channing (1780–1842) American Unitarian Theologian, Poet
Sacrifice still exists everywhere, and everywhere the elect of each generation suffers for the salvation of the rest.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
Only he can understand what a farm is, what a country is, who shall have sacrificed part of himself to his farm or country, fought to save it, struggled to make it beautiful. Only then will the love of farm or country fill his heart.
—Antoine de Saint-Exupery (1900–44) French Novelist, Aviator
The pig and the chicken were on their way to breakfast, trying to decide what to have. When chicken said, “Let’s have ham and eggs.” The pig then replied, “That’s fine for you, it’s a small donation on your part, but it’s a total sacrifice for me.”
—Unknown
He who would accomplish little must sacrifice little; he who would achieve much must sacrifice much; he who would attain highly must sacrifice greatly.
—James Lane Allen (1849–1925) American Novelist, Short Story Writer
The remarkable thing is that we really love our neighbor as ourselves: we do unto others as we do unto ourselves. We hate others when we hate ourselves. We are tolerant toward others when we tolerate ourselves. We forgive others when we forgive ourselves. We are prone to sacrifice others when we are ready to sacrifice ourselves.
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
Self-sacrifice enables us to sacrifice other people without blushing.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
Whoever renders service to many puts himself in line for greatness—great wealth, great return, great satisfaction, great reputation, and great joy.
—Jim Rohn (1930–2009) American Entrepreneur, Author, Motivational Speaker
A fortune is usually the greatest of misfortunes to children. It takes the muscles out of the limbs, the brain out of the head, and virtue out of the heart. In this world, it is not what we take up, but what we give up, that makes us rich.
—Henry Ward Beecher (1813–87) American Clergyman, Writer
There’s only one effectively redemptive sacrifice, the sacrifice of self-will to make room for the knowledge of God.
—Aldous Huxley (1894–1963) English Humanist, Pacifist, Essayist, Short Story Writer, Satirist
How much easier is self-sacrifice than self-realization!
—Eric Hoffer (1902–83) American Philosopher, Author
The stern hand of fate has scourged us to an elevation where we can see the great everlasting things which matter for a nation—the great peaks we had forgotten, of Honor, Duty, Patriotism, and clad in glittering white, the great pinnacle of Sacrifice pointing like a rugged finger to Heaven.
—David Lloyd George (1863–1945) British Liberal Statesman
There is no moral authority like that of sacrifice.
—Nadine Gordimer (1923–2014) South African Novelist, Short-Story Writer
Our virtues are dearer to us the more we have had to suffer for them. It is the same with our children. All profound affection admits a sacrifice.
—Luc de Clapiers, marquis de Vauvenargues (1715–47) French Moralist, Essayist, Writer
Self-denial is not a virtue, it is only the effect of prudence on rascality.
—George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) Irish Playwright
To ease another’s heartache is to ease one’s own.
—Abraham Lincoln (1809–65) American Head of State
If anyone is crazy enough to want to kill a president of the United States, he can do it. All he must be prepared to do is give his life for the president’s.
—John F. Kennedy (1917–63) American Head of State, Journalist
Sacrifice, which is the passion of great souls, has never been the law of societies.
—Henri Frederic Amiel (1821–81) Swiss Moral Philosopher, Poet, Critic
Too long a sacrifice can make a stone of the heart. O. When may it suffice?
—William Butler Yeats (1865–1939) Irish Poet, Dramatist
We live very close together. So, our prime purpose in life is to help others. And if we can’t help them, at least don’t hurt them.
—The 14th Dalai Lama (b.1935) Tibetan Buddhist Religious Leader, Civil Rights Leader, Philosopher, Author
For anything worth having one must pay the price; and the price is always work, patience, love, self-sacrifice—no paper currency, no promises to pay, but the gold of real service.
—John Burroughs (1837–1921) American Naturalist, Writer
Many men have been capable of doing a wise thing, more a cunning thing, but very few a generous thing.
—Alexander Pope (1688–1744) English Poet
We must want for others, not ourselves alone.
—Eleanor Roosevelt (1884–1962) American First Lady, Diplomat, Humanitarian
There is no higher religion than human service. To work for the common good is the greatest creed.
—Woodrow Wilson (1856–1924) American Head of State
You can’t live a perfect day without doing something for someone who will never be able to repay you.
—John Wooden (1910–2010) American Sportsperson
If you want to sacrifice the admiration of many men for the criticism of one, go ahead, get married.
—Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003) American Actor, TV Personality
They never fail who die in a great cause.
—Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron) (1788–1824) English Romantic Poet
Self-sacrifice is the real miracle out of which all the reported miracles grow.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82) American Philosopher
What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal.
—Albert Pike (1809–91) American Masonic Scholar, Orator, Jurist